Speaking to the JC as part of a visit to north west London, Badenoch said she was “more than shocked” by the article, which has been widely criticised on social media.
Kemi Badenoch in Coco bakery in north west London (Image: The JC).[Missing Credit]
“I mean, to be honest, The Guardian has previous on this, that article, which was pretending to be about Israel… was just yet another cover for antisemitism,” she said.
“The people in this country tend not to care who owns which shop. They just care whether the food is good or not. And I think it's absolutely disgusting that people are starting to bring in the heritage and the ownership of businesses. I think that it is what is leading to the kind of violence and intimidation tactics that we're seeing in many places, including at Gail’s bakeries.
"I think that is also disgusting, and I don't think any newspaper should be doing things that increase the intimidation of any community in our country.”
The Conservative leader did, however, defend the right of the left-leaning paper to publish the article.
“I believe in free speech, so The Guardian can say whatever it wants to say. I'm not asking that those columns not be written, but I do think that those of us who believe in what is right need to speak up and condemn these things when we see them. We should use our free speech and our voice to make sure that the public hears what is right.”
Badenoch’s trip saw her visit several Jewish high-street stores in support of her party’s attempts to regain control of the London Borough of Barnet from Labour in May’s council election.
She was accompanied by Conservative Friends of Israel’s honourary president, Lord Polak, and former MP Mike Freer, as well as several local activists and candidates.
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Kemi Badenoch with challah rolls in Grodz bakery (Image: The JC).[Missing Credit]
The Tory leader went behind the tills at Kosher Kingdom, into the kitchen at Coco Bakery and stocked the shelves of Grodz bakery with bagels, challah rolls and doughnuts.
She also accused the Labour-run council of failing local residents and said that her candidates’ plans, including abolishing local business rates, would allow local high streets in Barnet and up and down the country to thrive.
A Guardian spokesperson said: “Complaints about Guardian journalism are considered by the internally independent readers’ editor under The Guardian's editorial code and guidance.”
